S – All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. 

Matthew 11:27 CSB

O – Commentary:

Jesus was revealing his intimate relationship to the Father. Everything he said and did was rooted in this Father-Son unity (see John 10:14–15; 14:6–7; 15:23–24; 16:15; 17:25–26).

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

“Know” – ĕpiginōskō,:  to know upon some mark, recognize; to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:

 The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

A – Jesus reveals the relationship He has with God.  It marked him and the intimacy they shared.  We want that type of intimacy with God.  One that is marked with closeness and shared relationship.  This allows us to know him fully as he already knows us completely since God knows our hearts and thoughts. 

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all.  We want to “know” you more.  We desire an intimacy with you that marks us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to do the work in us that allows for closeness and alignment with your character.  

S – And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.

Matthew 10:38–39 CSB

O – Commentary:

A true disciple must take his cross and follow Jesus (cf. Matt. 16:24). He must be willing to face not only family hatred, but also death, like a criminal carrying his cross to his own execution. In addition, in those days a criminal carrying his cross was tacitly admitting that the Roman Empire was correct in executing its death sentence on him. Similarly Jesus’ followers were admitting His right over their lives. In so doing one would find his life in return for having given it up to Jesus Christ 

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – What a foreshadow of Jesus going to the cross!  Crucifixion was not a new concept since it had been used to kill people already. To connect that to following Jesus was challenging and graphic.  Where we don’t see the physical side of it today, we can easily “gloss over” the commitment Jesus is asking of us.  He is asking us to identify and align ourselves with Him even when it costs us our own lives physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually…basically every part of us.  The big question is, “Will we commit all to him?”

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender all of ourselves to you.  Jesus paid the ultimate price for us in giving his own life for our sin and allowing us to have relationship with you.  We gladly give our lives back to you and align with your purpose for our lives.

S – When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:36–38 CSB

O – “compassion” – Greek – 

splagchnizŏmai, to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (fig.) feel sympathy, to pity:— have (be moved with) compassion.

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words

A – Jesus feels so deeply for the crowds that it is visceral.  Such a sense of compassion conveys the heart of God for us.  When we sin or pull back on our relationship with him, he longs for us to draw closer.  Jesus is seeing the scope of reaching people is beyond his one person and is preparing his followers to go out in twos in the next chapter.

R – Heavenly Father, we are in awe and wonder in who you are.  Please give us that same love for others when they need you.  We want others to be close to you and we can share the gospel and your love.

S – Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 

³ Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Matthew 8:2–3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Leprosy was an unattractive skin disease for which the Bible had prescribed quarantine from the rest of society (Lev 13:45–46).  Lepers were thus largely outcasts from society (2 Kings 7:3). In personal address, “Lord” could also mean “Sir”; the degree of respect connoted depended on the person addressed. Prostrating oneself before another signified extreme respect for another’s dignity or power to meet a difficult need.

8:3. Touching a leper was forbidden (cf. Lev 5:3), and most people would have been revolted by the thought of it. Indeed, the *law enjoined the leper’s isolation from society (Lev 13:45–46). 

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

A – The fact that Jesus came close and touched the leper is remarkable.  The value he put on that person who knew no sense of “closeness” or even what it meant to have someone put their hand on him.  Jesus models a love that looks beyond the outside and sees the person for who he is.  We want to align with this type of love.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our God.  Thank you for the model Jesus gave us while on this earth.  Please help our hearts and actions align with demonstrating that love in tangible ways.  We want others to know you.

S – “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. ² For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use

Matthew 7:1–2 CSB

O –  Commentary:

This passage does not teach that judgments should never be made; Matthew 7:5 does speak of removing the speck from your brother’s eye. The Lord’s point was that a person should not be habitually critical or condemnatory of a speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye when he has a plank—a strong hyperbole for effect—in his own eye. Such action is hypocritical (You hypocrite, v. 5; cf. “hypocrites” in 6:2, 5, 16). Though judgment is sometimes needed, those making the distinctions (krinō, judge, means “to distinguish” and thus “to decide”) must first be certain of their own lives.

Furthermore when seeking to help another, one must exercise care to do what would be appreciated and beneficial

  “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – As a leader, it is important that you always start with yourself.  Before leading someone else, you must get before God and allow him to do the work on you.  This will enable you to lead from a solid foundation and personal relationship with God.  We demonstrate our love for others with honest conversation and challenge but we cannot see their heart.  That is for the Lord to judge.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you today.  Start with us.  Reveal our sins and inadequacies so we can be forgiven and made whole.  Give us mercy and compassion to know we are growing in our relationship with you.  Allow us to share that same mercy and compassion with others as we are honest with them.

S – “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 6:1 CSB

O – Commentary:

This verse introduces the theme of 6:2–18, that righteousness should not be done for public recognition but as a service to God. • Good deeds are acts that conform to God’s pattern for proper behavior: e.g., gift giving (6:2–4), prayer (6:5–15), and fasting (6:16–18). Jesus urges secrecy to counteract the human propensity to seek praise for oneself rather than for God

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – The Bible is clear that our faith is evident in our works – so our actions are necessary.  We cannot do the things honoring God in a “silo.”  However, the attitude of our hearts should be to honor God and not for the recognition of others.  We can usually tell if we seek affirmation if we are disappointed we didn’t receive it.  It is part of the maturation process in our relationship with God.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you as God.  There is no rival or peer of yours.  Please help us to align with your will and purposes.  Also, help our hearts and attitudes desire to honor you and not for the sake of others. We desire your affirmation, not theirs.

S – Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Matthew 5:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Blessed are. “Blessed” means “happy” or “fortunate” (cf. Ps. 1:1). The qualities Jesus mentioned in this list, “the poor in spirit,” “those who mourn,” “the meek,” etc., obviously could not be products of Pharisaic righteousness. The Pharisees were concerned primarily with external qualities, but the qualities Jesus mentioned are internal. These come only when one is properly related to God through faith, when one places his complete trust in God.

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

“Poor in spirit” – 

Thus distinguished, it is very graphic and appropriate here, as denoting the utter spiritual destitution, the consciousness of which precedes the entrance into the kingdom of God, and which cannot be relieved by one’s own efforts, but only by the free mercy of God

 Word Studies in the New Testament

A – A blessing comes when we recognize we cannot attain a relationship with God on our own.  We realize that we can’t work or do enough to earn it.  There is freedom when we surrender and yield to recognizing Jesus as our savior.  The blessing of a relationship far surpasses the satisfaction of what we can do on our own.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We recognize our inadequacy in reaching you unless we go through Jesus as our savior. We thank you for Jesus covering our sins with his blood.  We step towards the blessing of knowing you.

S – Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people

 Matthew  4:23 CSB

O – Commentary:

The work of the Lord was not limited to preaching. His deeds were as important as His words, for a great question in the minds of the Jews would be, “Can this One claiming to be Messiah perform the works of Messiah?” Matthew 4:23 is an important summary statement crucial to Matthew’s theme (cf. 9:35, almost identical to 4:23). Several important elements are included in this verse. (1) Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues. The ministry of this One who claimed to be King of the Jews was conducted among the Jews. He ministered in synagogues, places of Jewish gatherings for worship. (2) This One was involved in “teaching” and preaching. He thus was involved in a prophetic ministry for He is “the Prophet” announced in Deuteronomy 18:15–19. (3) He was proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. His message was that God was moving to fulfill His covenantal program with Israel and to establish His kingdom on the earth. (4) He was healing every disease and sickness among the people (cf. “teaching,” “preaching,” and “healing” in Matt. 9:35). This authenticated that He is indeed the Prophet, for His words were backed up by authenticating signs. All these actions should have convinced the Jewish people that God was moving in history to accomplish His purposes. They were responsible to get ready by repenting from their sins and acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.

“Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – There was a “practical, hands-on” aspect in Jesus’ life.  Knowing he was speaking to the Jewish nation as their Messiah, these elements are tremendously important.  We must recognize his “hands-on” approach to us, which is in reading and learning his Word.  His promises and character are revealed to us in understanding His Word and spending time in a relationship with Him.  As it is revealed, we grow more like him.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and exalt you today.  Please reveal more of your promises and character to us.  Please give us the capacity to grasp and understand the mysteries of your word and who you are.  As we do this, give us the courage to align our lives with these principles and promises.

S – “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

 Matthew 3:11 CSb

O – Commentary:

with water: Or in water. • who is greater than I am: Despite his popularity and growing following, John had a clear sense of his role as subordinate to the Messiah. • I’m not worthy even to be his slave: In Jewish culture, to remove and carry someone’s sandals, even those of a rabbi, was too lowly a task even for the rabbi’s disciple. It was a job reserved for slaves. • with the Holy Spirit and with fire (or in the Holy Spirit and in fire): This happened at Pentecost (see Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2); the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit (see 12:28; Luke 4:14), may also be included. Fire may refer to purification (Zech 13:9) or judgment (Mal 4:1; see Isa 1:25; 4:4; Mal 3:2–3). It is a “Spirit-and-fire baptism”; the Messiah puts into effect what John could only prepare—thoroughgoing judgment and purification.

 New Living Translation Study Bible

A – John’s humility as he gained popularity allowed him to “set the table” for the Messiah.  His message of repentance was counter to the Jewish culture. He was moving forgiveness to the act of sacrifice at the temple to a personal decision of the heart.  Jesus adds the Holy Spirit to the relationship.  We need both in our relationship – repentance and a turning to God, which allows the Holy Spirit to move in our lives.

R – Heavenly Father, we exalt you to the highest place of honor.  Work in our hearts to act in repentance for our sins.  Please help us to turn from our sins genuinely.  We invite the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to grow us closer to your character and love for others.

S – After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” ¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt

Matthew 2:13–14 CSB

O – The joy and wonder of the wise men coming to worship and lay gifts at Jesus’ feet is quickly dispelled by the command to escape with Jesus.  Joseph again demonstrates immediate obedience and protects Mary and Jesus from Herod.

A – We want to be so “in tune” with God that we act immediately to his command and do it without question.  That requires our relationship with God to be healthy and intimate.  We must interact daily with the Holy Spirit and listen for God’s prompting.

R –  Heavenly Father, you are Holy and True.  Please help us to be “in tune” and aligned with you in our relationship.  We want to be led by the Holy Spirit in our thoughts, words and actions.  We want to act in your timing and do it with an obedient heart.